A free, step-by-step guide from a mystery party script author

I’ve been writing murder mystery scripts since 2008.
My scripts have helped over 20,000 people host murder mystery parties, and this guide will help you host yours, too! – Ken Blumreich

Are you looking for a way to throw a fun, affordable party that your friends and guests will talk about for years? Then look no further! Murder mystery parties provide a uniquely entertaining experience that you and your guests will never forget.

How to Host a Murder Mystery Party

There are 3 steps to hosting a murder mystery party:

  1. Choose Your Game – Download, purchase, or write a game script that works with your venue, theme & guest count.
  2. Plan Your Party – Invite your guests, plan a menu, and decorate the venue.
  3. Throw Your Party – Receive your guests, serve food & drinks (optional), and guide them through the game.

This guide will walk you through each step so you have the tools and confidence to throw a fantastic murder mystery party!

Looking For Party Kits?
Download a Playing With Murder party kit, which includes instructions, scripts, printable clues, andeverything else you need to throw your party.
Playing With Murder party kits give you everything you need to host a murder mystery party, but continue reading if you want a general overview of how to throw this type of party.

What Is A Murder Mystery
Party?

This type of party brings your guests together for an event where they find themselves at the center of a mysterious murder scene.

As the host, you enlist your guests to help you solve the crime. They will need to work together and discuss the clues they find. Assuming they are clever (and lucky), they’ll discover the identity and motive of the culprit.

How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
This guide will walk you through every step of hosting a murder mystery party, so you know what to expect as you plan the big day.

STEP 1: Choose Your Game

There are many murder mystery party kits available for purchase online and in stores. But before choosing one, you need to know some specifics.

  1. Venue: Where will you host your party?
  2. Guest Count: How many people will you invite?
  3. Theme: What time period and scene will you create? (e.g., Roaring ’20s, Mardi Gras, etc.)
  4. Game Type: Interactive or scripted game?
  5. Game Format: Downloadable or boxed game kit?
Playing at the host's home. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
This host held the train-themed party Last Stop: Murder at their home.

Venue

Parties are usually held at:

This choice affects:

  • Maximum guest count
  • # of available rooms
  • Freedom to decorate
  • Parking &amp restroom access
  • Time constraints
  • Rental fees
Playing with a medium group. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
This group of 15 people played through the sci-fi themed mystery party Murder at the Nir Catina.

Guest Count

Different group sizes present different advantages and challenges:

This choice affects:

  • Planning complexity
  • Party expense
  • Group dynamic & interaction
  • Game challenge
Playing an interactive game. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
These guests are freely mingling with each other and improvising their characters in Last Stop: Murder, a train-themed mystery.

Game Type

Do you want your party to be more about your guests mixing and mingling or will it be an organized, seated affair? Your game type will determine how the game is played.

The 2 most popular game types are:

  • Interactive – Guests move and mingle with each other freely.
  • Scripted – Guests read from script when prompted, often seated at table.
Printing downloadable mystery party kit. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Playing with downloadable mystery party kit. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com

Downloadable kits can be as easy as print-and-play!

Game Format

Do you want your game in downloadable or boxed format?

  • Downloadable Kit – Printable document (usually PDF file) that includes everything you need to run a murder mystery party, such as instructions, invitations, nametags, clue cards, awards, etc. Available online.
  • Boxed Kit – Physical kit that includes everything needed to throw party. Can be bought at stores or online.

This choice affects:

  • Shopping convenience
  • Cost
  • Game reusability
  • Game customization
  • Instant Access (Downloadable Kits)

Theme

Role-playing characters from a different time period, background or geographical location is one of the most exciting elements of hosting a mystery party. Much of the night revolves around the theme (costumes, decorations, food, acting). And there are literally hundreds of options to choose from!

Most Popular Party Themes

Theme Description Example
Casino Host runs casino games (e.g., blackjack, roulette) during the party. Fake money, of course! Casino: Dead Money
Roaring ’20s Flappers, speakeasies, jazz, gangsters, etc. Jazz Age Jeopardy
High Society Recreate upscale parties of the wealthy and fabulous Murder in Manhattan
Train or other vehicle (boat, plane, etc) Set on a train (e.g., Orient Express), boat, plane or other vehicle that typically breaks down, trapping the guests. Last Stop: Murder
Old Mansion Set in a creepy old manor a la Clue The Terrible Castle of Baron Castaign
Mardi Gras Classic party theme that can be played year-round (if you don’t feel like waiting until February)! Mardi Gras, Masks, Murder!
Sci-Fi Space travelers & aliens, scientists & experiments, futuristic settings Murder at the Nir Cantina
Pirate Arrr Matey! Often starts on a boat, which is then typically shipwrecked. And there’s always treasure at stake! Pryce in Blood
Christmas/
Holiday
Mysteries for the holiday season. Many non-murder mysteries available. There Might Be No Christmas
Western Saloons, marshalls, outlaws, gambling
Fairy Tale Popular with all-female and children’s parties. Typically no murder but some other form of mischief.
Historical Medieval, ancient Egypt and Roman times are all popular themes.
Hollywood A Hollywood star, starlet or other celebrity gets killed.
Haunted manor theme party. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Haunted manor theme party
Sci-fi theme party. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Sci-fi theme party
Casino theme party. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Casino theme party

Have fun with this choice! It will set the tone for your party.

Step 1 Review

Now that you have weighed the pros and cons, it’s time to review your options and make your choices.

Review Game Options

Use the links below to return to a previous section for review.

Now it’s time to select your options. If you printed this guide, you can write your choices here:

Venue
Guest Count
Game Type
Game Format
Theme

Choose Your Game

The choices from above will help you quickly narrow down the right game for your party. If you would like your game in downloadable format, we invite you to start your search on Playing With Murder.


shop_games

Ready to plan your party?

If you already have your game or would like to learn more about how to plan a murder mystery party, continue to Step 2.

STEP 2: Plan Your Party

Once you have your game kit, it’s time to plan out all the details.

Here are the steps to planning:

Read Your Script

As the person organizing the party, your job is to make sure that everything runs smoothly and that your guests leave with great memories of the event!  A little extra time invested up front will ensure success.

  • Read the Entire Script – Make sure you know everything that has to happen to throw the party. You don’t want surprises on the day of the event!
  • Ask Questions – Contact the script provider if you have any questions about how the game works. Chances are they’ll be happy to help! If you have any questions about my games, I can be reached here.
  • Research Your Theme – Make sure you know what decorations, food, costumes, music, and slang are appropriate for your setting and time period.

Invite Your Guests

Everyone will be excited to get your invitation, but it’s important for you to know in a timely manner who will be coming.

  • Guest List – Make sure you have enough confirmed guests for the party and backup plans in case anyone can’t make it.
  • Invitations – It’s ideal to send out invitations a 2-4 weeks in advance so everyone has plenty of notice. RSVP’s should be in a week before the party so you know if you need to invite more people.

Decorate Your Venue

Decorating can be one of the most fun aspects of hosting a murder mystery party. But in addition to making the venue look right, you have to plan out how you’ll use the space.

  • Layout – If your mystery involves multiple areas (e.g. a casino mystery may have areas such as a poker room, bar, surveillance room, etc), decide in advance which rooms at the venue will correspond to which game areas.
  • Props and Decorations – A bit of decorating goes a long way at a murder mystery party. Make sure to gather a few props and decorations that will set the appropriate mood for your guests.
  • Audio – Some games come with background music or sound effects that can be played at specific moments in the game.
Game props. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Game props for party
A fedora and cigarette for the gangster-themed game Don Carrasino and the Murdered Mobster
Nametags. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Nametags so guests know other people’s characters
Theme party decorations. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
Party decorations to set the scene
This host created a water effect for the cruise ship-themed game Set Sail for Disaster

Plan Your Menu

While not all murder mysteries are set up as dinner parties, many are.  If you are going to serve food, you should plan the menu around the party:

Hors D'oevres. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com

Buffet and Hors d’oevres:

If your party is going to involve a lot of mingling between the guests, having a buffet, finger food or hors d’oevres will probably work best.

Plated dinner. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com

Plated Meals:

If your
party will be conducted as a seated affair, around a table, then you will
probably do best with a plated meal.

You can still have a plated meal if your throwing a mix-and-mingle style party; simply let your guests know in advance what time it will start.

Themed menu. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com
NYC-themed cake for the game Murder in Manhattan. Black frosting portrays skyline while red frosting indicates the party’s murderous event.

Themed Menus:

Depending on your particular party, a themed menu may add to the atmosphere.  For example, a Mardi Gras themed murder mystery might feature Cajun food and typical Louisiana fare, while a mystery set in a medieval castle might include a large roast, stew and chunks of bread.  Many mystery party scripts will include menu suggestions, so be sure to check!

 

If you would like to go any of these planning topics in more detail, you can read my expanded article about Step 2.

Otherwise, continue to Step 3 to learn more about throwing your party!

STEP 3: Throw Your Party

If you’ve done a good job of setting up and preparing your murder mystery party, this part should be easy!  While the exact steps of the party will vary depending on the particular script you are using, most will follow a somewhat similar outline:

  1. Guest Arrival
  2. Introduction
  3. Mingling and Eating
  4. Murder!
  5. Solving the Mystery
  6. Awards and Wrap Up

1. Guest Arrival

Your guests will need your help getting oriented as they arrive. Suggest that they get to know each other’s characters. This serves as a good icebreaker and a great segue into the actual party.

As they arrive, follow these steps:

  1. Hand out name tags
  2. Provide character sheets to anyone who doesn’t have one
  3. Instruct the guests to mingle

2. Introduction

After everyone has arrived and had a chance to mingle, explain how the party will proceed:

  1. Describe the setting and tell everyone why they are there (most party
    kits will have a script that you can read aloud that will “set the scene”).
  2. Provide notebooks and pens for everyone.
  3. Answer any questions people may have.
  4. Tell your guests that they are free to continue mingling and to follow the
    instructions on their character sheets.

Tip: Be confident and facilitate the party with authority; this will ensure
that your guests remain motivated and interested.

3. Mingling and Eating

Encourage mingling. During the first part of most murder mysteries, the guests will have a chance to mingle with each other and pursue their own objectives and agendas before the murder occurs. This is when everyone learns about each other’s characters.

Keep everyone involved. As host or hostess, your job here is to make certain that everyone is active and participating; if one of your guests looks lost or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to help them out and provide some pointers or suggestions.

After the guests have had time to mingle and conversations appear to be winding down, move on to dinner (if you plan to serve food), or proceed directly to the murder

4. Murder!

The party's murder victim. How to Host a Murder Mystery Party. #murdermysteryparty www.playingwithmurder.com

The murder will, of course, occur “off stage.”  There are generally two ways to handle this:

  1. The murder occurs during a blackout moment:
    The host or hostess turns off the lights for a brief time and when they turn them back on, the “victim” is lying on the floor.  This approach has the benefit of being very dramatic and exciting, but it requires excellent timing and a space that will be sufficiently dark that the other guests don’t see what happens.
  2. The murder occurs during an intermission:
    The host or hostess pauses the party and preps the murder scene, then allows the guests to enter and explore.

Tip: Give the victim plenty of notice.

Regardless of which approach you use, if the victim is going to be one of the guests, give the victim plenty of notice in advance of the “lights out” or intermission.  The best course of action is generally to inform the guest at the start of the evening that he or she will be playing the victim.

Tip: Make sure the victim has something to do after the murder occurs.

If the victim will be one of your guests, it is important to make sure the victim has something to do after the murder occurs.  A good approach to this is to have a secondary character that they can play post-murder.  Of course, it is important to make sure that the victim knows not to reveal any of their original character’s knowledge after the murder.

5. Solving the Mystery

Once the murder has occurred, it will be up to the guests to solve the mystery.

The key to the solution will usually involve one or more of the following:

  1. Using knowledge and information gained during the earlier portion of the evening;
  2. Using new information provided by the host or hostess regarding what the guests see and find at the scene of the crime;
  3. Using actual clues that are hidden around the murder scene.

Guide your guests through the investigation. As host or hostess, you will need to explain to the other guests how to proceed at this stage.  If they are going to do a scavenger hunt for clues, explain what they are doing and what area or areas they are allowed to search.

Many games come with physical clues. The clues can either be actual objects, such as a fake knife smeared with stage blood, or they can be printed cards that describe the clue in writing. For example, there could be a clue card with a picture of a broken bottle and a paragraph that states:

Broken Bottle: Clue #2 of 7
You find a broken bottle that was obviously used as the murder weapon. There are fingerprints on the bottle that indicate it was held in someone’s left hand.

Prompt guests to discuss and vote for killer. Once all of the clues have been gathered and the information shared, the guests will discuss among themselves what they think happened, present their ideas and information, and then individually vote on who they think the culprit is.

Hand out voting sheets.
Most mysteries include a premade “Whodunnit?” form that each guest can fill out; alternately, they can just write their answer on a slip of paper.  The host or hostess collects all of the sheets and notes which guests have correctly solved the mystery.

6. Awards and Wrap Up

Reveal the killer!  Once everyone has cast their votes, you will reveal the culprit to the group. You can explain their motives or let the killer speak on their own behalf. Either way, there should be some fun discussion as your guests discuss the outcome of the game.

Hand out the awards. If you are handing out awards or prizes, now is when you will personalize and distribute the awards and give out any door prizes.

Your murder mystery party is finished!

Once the murder has been solved and awards handed out, you will have successfully completed your murder mystery party! Your guests will surely discuss the mystery for as long as you allow them to stay afterwards. Make sure to get pictures while they are all in costume!

Share your party experience. Depending on the source of your mystery party, you may consider sending feedback or writing product reviews, or submitting pictures or video of the party.  A good murder mystery company will welcome and encourage feedback and be eager to improve their product line.  There may even be incentives offered for doing this – at www.playingwithmurder.com, I always offer substantial discounts and coupons to anyone who provides feedback or writes a review!

 

And That’s It!

That’s everything you need to know in order to throw an incredible murder mystery party!

Any questions? If you have any questions about murder mystery parties or about any of the material in this guide, please feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to answer!

Ready to host? If you’re ready to get started with your own murder mystery, we invite you to start shopping for downloadable mystery games on Playing With Murder.
Shop Murder Mystery Party Games

Leave a comment! Did you find this guide helpful? Please let us know by leaving your thoughts at the bottom of the page.

10 thoughts on “How to Host A Murder Mystery Party

    WordPress › Error

    There has been a critical error on this website.

    Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.